Depth Sensor Using CW and Pulsed Laser Emitters for Ghosting Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current depth-sensing technologies face challenges in accurately determining range and reflectivity, particularly due to issues like ghosting artifacts, which affect the precision of sensor systems used in various applications, including autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system employing a combination of continuous-wave and pulsed laser emitters, where the first emitter determines reflectivity and the second emitter adjusts its power based on this parameter to improve range measurement accuracy, minimizing ghosting artifacts by optimizing the emission power relative to the reflectivity of the target surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single laser emitter is used for depth sensing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to ghosting artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The single laser emitter is segmented into two distinct emitters: a continuous-wave laser emitter for reflectivity measurement and a pulsed laser emitter for range measurement. This segmentation allows each emitter to be optimized for its specific function, eliminating ghosting artifacts while maintaining system manageability through dedicated functional modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous-wave laser emitter performs preliminary reflectivity measurement before the pulsed laser emitter conducts range measurement. By determining the reflectivity of the target surface in advance, the system can compensate for varying reflectivity conditions during range measurement, thereby eliminating ghosting artifacts and improving measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If the pulsed laser emitter uses high power, then the range measurement capability is improved, but ghosting artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the continuous-wave laser emitter's reflectivity measurement to control the pulsed laser emitter's operation. The reflectivity information serves as feedback that allows the system to compensate for and eliminate ghosting artifacts while maintaining high range detection capability, creating a closed-loop control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the pulsed laser emitter based on the reflectivity measurements from the continuous-wave emitter. By adjusting the timing and power parameters according to the measured reflectivity, the system maintains high range detection capability while minimizing ghosting artifacts through dynamic parameter optimization.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the continuous-wave laser emitter is used for range measurement, then the power consumption is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to capture time-of-flight
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous-wave laser emitter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a reflectivity measurement source and as a safety indicator for the pulsed emitter operation. This universal design allows the low-power continuous-wave emitter to contribute to multiple system functions without requiring a separate high-power continuous-wave source, thereby managing power consumption effectively while maintaining measurement precision through the dedicated pulsed emitter.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy of depth-sensing systems by tuning the power of the pulsed laser emitter based on reflectivity, reducing ghosting artifacts and improving the reliability of range measurements, thereby improving overall sensor system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first emitter coupled to the support, facing radially outwardly, and configured to emit a continuous-wave (CW) beam
Implementation Method 2
a second emitter coupled to the support, facing radially outwardly, and configured to emit a pulsed beam
Data Source
AI summary
A system is described. The system includes: a support; a first emitter coupled to the support, facing radially outwardly, and configured to emit a continuous-wave (CW) beam; and a second emitter coupled to the support, facing radially outwardly, and configured to emit a pulsed beam. The system may determine reflectivity using the first emitter and may determine a range using the second emitter.